Yazzie 1

A job protecting animals that cant protect themselves from humans is a job for
me. Conservation officer is that job. I have always been interested by the great
outdoors. I love hunting, ,fishing, hiking, and camping so I think this is the perfect job for
me. Conservation officers serve and protect the National Forest of America. They are
the cops of the forest. A conservation officer has been one of my top three careers the I
want to pursue since Ive known what they do. After viewing educational standards,
history, people in this career, duties of this career, qualifications of workers, salary, and
related careers with same education I know this is the job I want to pursue.
According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the Lacey Act was the first act to protect
wildlife and fish in America in 1900. In 1935 the act was expanded to make taking an
animals life in the wild without a permit illegal. In 1956 the first squad of Conservation
Officers was dispatched all over America to enforce the laws that have been put in place
to protect fish and wildlife. In 1976 the Division of Law Enforcement constructed 13
enforcement districts in America (U.S. Fish and Wildlife service).
In America, there are around 190-250 conservation officers for each state. The
number ranges depending on how many people complete training. Conservation
officers are always in need. Every state is hiring right now, but they do have deadlines
for applications (New Mexico Game and Fish). When I'm done with school I hope they
will still be hiring. Most of the conservation officers go to work in the national forests of
America, which means it is a government job. If I become a conservation officer in New
Mexico I will probably be working around the state of New Mexico in the national forest.
Most of the time I will be patrolling the national forest, and if someone calls the office
with an emergency I will respond if Im in the area.

Yazzie 2

There are quite a few duties of being a conservation officer. The mission
statement of New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is:
To conserve, regulate, propagate and protect the wildlife and fish within
the state of New Mexico using a flexible management system that ensures
sustainable use for public food supply, recreation and safety; and to
provide for off-highway motor vehicle recreation that recognizes cultural,
historic, and resource values while ensuring public safety.(NMDGF)
That is the general duty of a conservation officer. Some specific duties that a
conservation officer must know as common knowledge are operating a 4x4 vehicle,
operating a ATV, and using a firearm. Conservation officers have irregular hours, work
overtime, sometimes have to go on overnight travels, occasional holidays, and work
weekends.
The physical requirements are the same if I were to become a police officer. To
get trained to be a law enforcer I must run 1.5 miles in 15 minutes and 20 seconds, run
300 meters in 65.4 seconds, complete 31 sit-ups within a minute, and 29 push-ups
within a minute. After basic law enforcement training I must run 1.5 miles within 13
minutes and 58 seconds, run 300 meters within 58.9 seconds, do 37 sit-ups within a
minute, and 35 push-ups with an minute (NMDGF). The best personality for this career
is a outdoor person because conservation officers are outdoors most of the time. I dont
need any experience to apply for this job. This career is just as much mental as it is
physical. I would have to solve cases and work at a desk some days of the week and
other days I wouldl be out in the forest hiking or patrolling in a 4x4 truck. I must have a
Bachelor's Degree in one of the following areas: Biology, Fisheries

Yazzie 3

Science/Management, Wildlife Science/Management, Animal Science, Forestry,

Forestry Management, Range Science/Management, Agricultural Science,
Environmental Science, Wildlife Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice, Ecology, Natural
Resource Science/Management or Zoology is required for this position.(New Mexico
Conservation Officer Trainee). The most common method of entering this career is
going to school for a bachelor's degree but when Im a junior I want to go into training
and have a part time job following a conservation officer or a mentor.
I am planning to go to school for criminal justice and getting a bachelors degree
in that field. I havent decided on the school. After school I am going to go right into
training for law enforcement. After training I was thinking of become a Navajo Nation
Police Officer for a while because it requires the same schooling and training. I want to
do that because that is my tribe and I want to help my tribe any way I can. When Im
done with being a cop Ill become a conservation officer until I retire.
A conservation officer gets many health care benefits. I would get to travel
around the state of New Mexico a lot. I would hope to learn how to safely operate a
firearm. This career is very dangerous. Some days I would have to confront a man who
has a firearm. Some days officers have to safely remove a dangerous animal like a bear
or a mountain lion from danger. Officers hike step mountains, narrow paths around cliffs.
All officers have to be prepared to drive close to cliffs or steep edges.
I would fit in this career perfect because of my passion for the outdoors and my
passion to help wildlife and people. After studying this career in depth I do want to
pursue this career in the future. I really like this career and I do think this is the career
for me.

Yazzie 4

Works Cited
"About Gamekeeping." |. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
<http://www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk/about-gamekeeping>.
"Connecticut Conservation Officers Association - HISTORY." Connecticut Conservation
Officers Association - HISTORY. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
"Conservation Officer Job Discription." New Mexico Game and Fish. N.p., n.d. Web. 04
Feb. 2014.
"New Mexico Wildlife." Conservation Officer Hiring Page. New Mexico Department of
Game and Fish, 17 Jan. 2014. Web. 04 Feb. 2014.